What Is a Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery?
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a type of minimally invasive surgical technique which is safer than conventional surgery to diagnose and treat a wide range of disorders of the chest and lungs. In order to provide a minimally invasive VATS technique surgeons use a specialized tiny camera called thoracoscope. Today with the use of VATS technique surgeons can perform many common thoracic procedures in a minimally invasive manner.
Our highly experienced thoracic surgeons are specialised in VATS technique, ensures the best possible outcome for our patients. He is carefully reviewing patients condition in a detailed examination to find the appropriate treatment. If the VATS surgery is appropriate for the patient our thoracic surgeon usually prefer minimally invasive surgery to open surgery because it is associated with less morbidity, less scarring and shorter recovery time.
VAT procedures
During the surgery thoracoscope and special surgical instruments are inserted through small incisions usually made between 7th and 8th ribs. The thoracoscope provides the surgeon with high resolution images of the inside of the chest. Additionally one or two one or two other small incisions are made over the chest to perform the surgery itself. It enables the surgeon to remove the abnormal tissue completely and spare the healthy tissue. At the end of the surgery, the small incisions are closed with absorbable sutures. Thus there is no need to remove the sutures
The main advantage of VATS surgery is avoidance of a thoracotomy incision which result in less scarring, less pain, shorter hospital stay and quick recovery. Most patients are able to discharged from the hospital 1 to 3 days after the surgery.
We pride ourselves on helping to our patients to find the options of care which are the safest, modern and most minimally-invasive. Our surgeon has been at the forefront of utilizing the latest minimally invasive surgical options, including robotic and endoscopic techniques to help our patients. Minimally invasive surgical technique is less invasive than open surgery, reducing the risk of infection, minimizing scarring and patients recover from surgery more quickly. Our surgeons usually perform video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung biopsies, pleural biopsies and remove malignancies from lung.